News

• 9 June 2003
  EUROPE/CROATIA - THE POPE SAYS: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS ALWAYS GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM IN PRAYER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DRIVEN BY THE POWERFUL WIND OF THE SPIRIT, SHE IS ALWAYS ON THE STREETS PREACHING Rijeka (Fides Service) – On Sunday 8 June, Pope John Paul II went to Rijeka’s Delta Square which takes its name from the delta of the Rifecina River, where he presided the celebration of the Mass of Pentecost. “The ...
• 9 June 2003
  AFRICA/CHAD - RADIO DUJI LOKAR CALLS FIDES TO HELP STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF CENTRAL AFRICAN REFUGEES IN CHAD MOWED DOWN BY FAMINE Moundou (Fides Service) – There is alarm for the situation of Central African refugees sheltering in Chad, Radio Duji Lokar in Moundou (southern Chad) tells Fides Service. At least 22,000 people are camped in the borde ...
• 9 June 2003
  EUROPE/SPAIN - “LAY CHRISTIANS BUILDERS OF PEACE”: BISHOPS’ MESSAGE FOR DAY OF CATHOLIC ACTION AND LAY APOSTOLATE Madrid (Fides Service) – “To make the Church, the home and school of communion (Novo Millennium Ineunte 43) is the challenge facing us as Christians if we want to be faithful to God’s plan and respond to the greate ...
• 9 June 2003
  AFRICA/MAURITANIA - AFTER THE ATTEMPTED COUP FIGHTING CONTINUES. ISLAMIST EXTREMIST BEHIND THE COUP? Nouakchott (Fide Service) - The situation is still confused in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania after an unsuccessful coup to oust President Maaouiya Ould Taya. Fighting continues between special forces faithful to the ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/MALAYSIA - BORNEO, CROSSROADS OF CIVILISATIONS, PEOPLES AND TRADITIONS: JESUITS WORK TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE Kuala Lumpur (Fides Service) – Every year in May the people of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo hold their traditional Rice Feast, when they thank their ancient rice spirit for a good harvest in their customary way. The prese ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/MIDDLE EAST - ECUMENICAL NETWORK FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR AND THE MARGINALISED IN THE MIDDLE EAST Amman (Fides Service) – To foster ecumenism is the aim of the Middle East Council of Churches, based in Amman Jordan. MECC represents the various Christian confessions present in the region. During a meeting in May hel ...
• 9 June 2003
  AMERICA/GUYANA - DIALOGUE AMONG CULTURES AND RELIGIONS: JESUITS OPEN NEW INSTITUTE Georgetown (Fides Service) – In Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, the Jesuits Fathers have opened an Institute for Dialogue between Cultures and Religions. Jesuit Superior in Guyana Father Joe Chria explains: “commi ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/INDIA - IN DELHI CATHOLICS OF ORIENTAL RITE NOW HAVE THEIR OWN PARISHES New Delhi (Fides Service) – Catholics of Oriental Rite in the Latin-rite archdiocese of Delhi will now have their own parish communities. Archbishop Vincent Michael Concessao issued a Decree of Creation of Personal par ...
• 9 June 2003
  ASIA/TAIWAN - YOUNG ITALIAN MISSIONARY TELLS OF APPALLING INCREASE IN SUICIDE IN TAIWAN WHICH KILLS MORE THAN SARS Taipei (Fides Service) – “Here in Taipei the situation with regard to SARS is improving but since it is a mysterious disease which escapes control people are still afraid because they feel defenceless and helpless” ...
• 6 June 2003
  EUROPE/ITALY - “HERE I AM LORD, SEND ME!” LITTLE MISSIONARIES TO VISIT POPE FOR 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD PONTIFICAL SOCIETY Rome (Fides Service) – On Saturday 14 June, to mark the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Society for Missionary Childhood, (1843-2003) thousands of children members of Missionary Childhood will pay a ...
• 6 June 2003
  AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT BOZIZE BY SOME NEIGHBOURS OPENS DOOR FOR SENDING OF INTERNATIONAL AID AND NORMALISATION OF THE COUNTRY Bangui (Fides Service) – The recognition of President Bozize by neighbouring countries which form CEMAC the Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa, “is one more step towards the normalisation of the country” ...
• 6 June 2003
  AFRICA/RWANDA - GOSPEL CHARITY TO OVERCOME DIVISIONS AND CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO BUILD A NEW SOCIETY Kigali (Fides Service) – “Charity is the means for overcoming the hatred and division which persist the country and we offer a small but significant contribution in this direction” says Marie Grace Mukabyagaju, pre ...
• 6 June 2003
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - THIS IS THE HOUR OF PEACE: A HISTORY-MAKING OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE LOST! ARCHBISHOP GOMIS URGES GOVERNMENT AND TAMIL MOVEMENT TO RESUME TALKS Colombo (Fides Service) – “We must not lose this opportune moment, this history-making opportunity to build peace! The Christian community strongly supports the hope for peace which is truly within reach”: Archbish ...
• 6 June 2003
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - CATECHESIS AND COMMUNICATIONS IN FORMATION OF PRIESTS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MISSION Bangalore (Fides Service) – The new Rector of St Peter’s major seminary in the Indian diocese of Bangalore, Rev Sebastian Periannan, plans to give special attention to ‘communications’ in the formation programme ...
• 6 June 2003
  AMERICA/ARGENTINA - NATIONAL ROSARY CONGRESS: DISCOVERING THE ROSARY AS A METHOD OF PREACHING AND EMINENTLY CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER Cordoba (Fides Service) – In his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (n. 3) Pope John Paul II exhorts individuals and communities to strive, particularly in this Year of the Rosary, to re-discover the full sig ...